Initial Thoughts on HBO’s Game of Thrones

28Apr

At this point I have seen the first two episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones. The pilot, while still good, I also found lacking, but I acknowledge that many pilots are not as good as the rest of the show. The pilot covered too many characters in not enough depth, and so I felt like nothing was accomplished. The second episode was much, much better than the first, and I was very pleased with it. The major thing about these two episodes is that it would have been very hard to follow if I had not already read the books; knowing all of the characters and the world beforehand is very helpful. The problem with making a show out of this series is that there are so many characters, that by the second season each character will only have five or eight minutes per episode, which is problematic.

Based on these two episodes, my major thought is that the sex is overdone. A lot. Dany and Khal Drogo’s sex scenes are extremely awkward, and they seem to portray Drogo in a less caring way than in the books, which made me sad. Also, anal seems to be very popular.

The casting for the show was superb, I think, and the acting (while dramatic) is very, very good; Cersei and Joffrey make me angry, Jaime gives me mixed reactions, Tyrion is both despicable and loveable, Jon is Jon, Ned is noble and strong, Sansa is a bimbo (sorry for any offense that might be taken here), Arya is the female version of her father in his younger days, Robert is the drunken king, and Catelyn is the annoying wife. I never liked Catelyn, and while she does have her good aspects, the show brings out the negative in her.

What I want to see more of is Theon Greyjoy; the Greyjoys in the Iron Isles were always my second favorite plot line (after Dany’s), as I’ve always felt a connection with the sea. Theon is not nice, yes, but he’s the door to Balon and Aeron Hreyjoy, who I love as characters. The Others I were not happy with, but they don’t play a large role yet.

I look forward to seeing the Night’s Watch men and Stannis Baratheon, not to mention Littlefinger and (of course) the Greyjoy’s and Dornes – though that might be a ways away. In the end, I’m happy with this show, and am excited to see where it goes!